This past weekend my boykin shut down on me both days Sunday and Monday. It was in the low 30's and cold. First time she done it to me. It was after she mad 15 or so retrieves though. I think she is way to lean and skinny which is the biggest problem. Any one else has had this issue. Don't get me wrong she made 30+ retrieves but at the end was done. Sunday she shut down but the sun came out and she went back to work so that what I think it was just a cold issue

You put a neoprene vest on her? If not, may help when cold.

I've pheasant hunted with English Cockers since I was about 14 and I believe those smaller frame dogs with the finer hair deinately get cold faster. 30 seems to be the magic number where they will go as normal for quite a while then just shut down even with a heavy neo vest. I know they aren't boykins, but I think they are very similar. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

Dogs are smart. They no when its cold

sunday morning the water was very low and it wore my uncles 5 year old female and 8 month old male lab out.... they didnt listen good when making the last retrieve... you can hardly blame them

Yes she had s vest on. It don't get that cold normally so I know it won't happen very often. Usually you can't ware her little ass out. It's no big deal for me just wondering.

I was thinking that. She just needs some fat on her I think.

She happy in the truck though lol

It was 24 Sunday morning, and roux wouldn't even get in the water. If these dogs shut down and turn into little pussies when it gets cold, then she's gonna be useless half the year.

Have y'all considered putting heaters in the blind/ boat with the dogs?

Yall could just cuddle

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Lol no ain't gonna happen. I had my big dog shut down before same day Craig's did the same but their was 1" ice on the water

Y'all jump in 30 deg water and see what y'all do. Hahaha just a thought

But they have fur coats!

Need to work more w them on drive. Born w plenty bt those cold days is when force to pile is key

Good advice. I want to get her used to everything and get some retrieves under her belt, and then start getting in depth with her this off season. I've only had her a couple months..

If there force fetch was complete and they have been water forced and all there swim byes were complete u wouldn't run into that problem but it also depends on how much pressure they can take never messed with one personally

Never hunted with a Boykin. All the guys I know I hunt with in MN use Labs (one guy has a Golden). Maybe for good reason. Low 30s isn't very cold for us--that's average temp we hunt in late Oct-mid Nov. By late Nov. ave low temp is below 20. Dogs do burn a ton of calories in the cold and it is probably harder on the smaller breeds.

Vests help a ton and so does getting them off a cold aluminum surface.

If the dog has a desire to retrieve & busts the water all other times they are not going for a reason. My dog loves to retrieve but when dove hunting & its hot she will stop listening a little. I stop sending her till she cools down. Its called self-preservation. Don't hurt you dog for a damn duck.

Terry, does your dog wear the XS size vest?

Has nothing to do w the size of the dog. Mine hunted fine the other morn. I believe u guys need to let ur dogs undercoat grow. If they are stayin inside year round the undercoat is not developing.

I didn't think a Boykin has a undercoat. I think your missing the point she hunted for hours made many retrieves just maybe wore down from every weekend of hunting. She also been fighting ear infections. I know she had a fever when we got home Monday. Maybe it was a little of everything.

this is what made my uncles dogs want to give up

I have a 35lbs British lab. Got a vest for her. She has drive for days and LIVES to hunt. When it gets cold, she shuts down also. You ca. See it in her face. It scares me sometimes cause she looks like she is about to just stop swimming all together. Been considering getting a big dog specifically for these cold mornings. I have gotten to where ill let the duck swim to shore then carry or boat my girl over to shore an let her sniff it out. Works well for me

My lab is about 7 now and she's never been a blazing fast retriever when hunting (different story during hunt tests for some reason) she just keeps a decent pace when hunting. That being said when its really cold water she's working in it slows a little more, especially if is low enough for her to walk in without having to swim. I know one thing that helps with her is giving lots of praise starting with bird number 1 and every one after that! I usually don't blow my come back whistle to her anymore, but on cold mornings I do it a lot, along with plenty of verbal "here's" and "good girl"

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Yes boykins have undercoats. I understand she was retrieving for u. Bt after 15 she came to the conclusion that she ain't goin again. That's where force to pile takes over. And the natural retrieving drive is out te window. Are u feeding her b4 the hunt? Mine has a hard time eating in the am b4 the hunt. I now take mine outside and give him a 1/4 can of wet salmon/rice feed mixed w 1/2 cup dry. I have seen him get tired in the blind web he wont eat. Bt I did see y'all been killin a good bit, I told Tal the other morn."he's not eating in the am anymore and he's gettin hard headed" so I have him the last few days off. He's ready to go again

Like I said I think it's a mixture of everything. Since the second split all our hunts been 18 or more retrieves some in heavy current. I think I got her ear infection cleared up so I know she didn't feel good.

I now have a new problem. My wife has become attached to her. Lol I don't have a chance now.

Now that will be a prob

Really then how does mine hunt day in day out? Actually he's down to 32 pounds rt now

Training and desire to retrieve has nothing to do with how a dog reacts to colder than usual temperatures. Just like some of you fat asses can sweat on days that us skinny fucks are shivering cold. Dogs are the same way, coat thickness and body fat play the biggest role.